System and method for electric power generation using structured stacked piezoelectric arrays

Abstract

A piezoelectric power generation system includes a housing defining an opening therethrough and a support structure disposed within the housing, the support structure comprising a plurality of portions. The piezoelectric power generation system also includes one or more piezoelectric elements disposed between two of the plurality of portions of the support structure within the housing. Movement or vibration in the support structure compresses the one or more piezoelectric elements, wherein the one or more piezoelectric elements generate electric energy when compressed. The piezoelectric power generation system further includes one or more exciters coupled to the support structure, wherein the exciters move or vibrate when acted on by a flow of fluid, wherein the motion of vibration of the one or more exciters is translated to the support structure and ultimately to the one or more piezoelectric elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A piezoelectric power generation system, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a support structure disposed within the housing and comprising a plurality of portions, the support structure defined by an outer profile and an inner profile, the inner profile defining an orifice through which a tubing can be disposed, wherein a cross-section of the support structure is one of a plurality of geometric and non-geometric shapes; 
 one or more stacked piezoelectric components disposed adjacent to one of the plurality of portions of the support structure or between two of the plurality of portions of the support structure; and 
 one or more exciters coupled to the support structure and extending through and out of the housing, wherein the one or more exciters, when actuated, transfer vibrational motion to the support structure, which actuates the one or more stacked piezoelectric components. 
 
     
     
       2. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a spring. 
     
     
       3. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section is a square, circle, oval, or polygon. 
     
     
       4. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric circuit and a power storage device coupled to the one or more stacked piezoelectric components, the electric circuit and power storage device configured to process and store electric energy generated by the one or more stacked piezoelectric components. 
     
     
       5. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more stacked piezoelectric components generate electric energy through compressive vibration. 
     
     
       6. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 4 , wherein each or a subset of the one or more stacked piezoelectric components is independently coupled to the power storage device, wherein when the each or the subset of the one or more stacked piezoelectric components fails, the remaining of the one or more piezoelectric components are still able to provide generated energy to the power storage device. 
     
     
       7. A piezoelectric power generation system, comprising:
 a housing, the housing defining an opening therethrough; 
 a support structure disposed within the housing, the support structure comprising a plurality of portions; 
 one or more piezoelectric elements disposed between two of the plurality of portions of the support structure within the housing, wherein the one or more piezoelectric elements comprise one or more stacked piezoelectric components; and 
 one or more exciters coupled to the support structure, wherein the one or more exciters move when acted on by a flow of fluid, wherein the motion of the one or more exciters is translated to the support structure, which applies force to the one or more piezoelectric elements causing them to generate electricity. 
 
     
     
       8. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 alternating layers of portions of the support structure and layers of piezoelectric elements. 
 
     
     
       9. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more exciters extend inwardly from the housing, extending from the support structure towards the opening. 
     
     
       10. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 7 , wherein the housing substantially shields the support structure and the one or more piezoelectric elements from an environment exterior to the housing. 
     
     
       11. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 7 , further comprising an electric circuit and a power storage device coupled to the one or more stacked piezoelectric components, the electric circuit and power storage device configured to process and store electric energy generated by the one or more stacked piezoelectric components. 
     
     
       12. The piezoelectric power generation system of  claim 11 , wherein each or a subset of the one or more piezoelectric elements is independently coupled to the power storage device, wherein when the each or the subset of the one or more piezoelectric elements fails, the remaining of the one or more piezoelectric elements are still able to provide generated energy to the power storage device. 
     
     
       13. A method of piezoelectric power generation, comprising:
 moving one or more exciters when fluid flows past the one or more exciters; 
 translating movement of the one or more exciters to a support structure causing the support structure to move, wherein the support structure is disposed within a housing, and wherein the one or more exciters are coupled to the support structure and extend away from the support structure; 
 the movement of the support structure applying force to one or more stacked piezoelectric components, wherein the one or more stacked piezoelectric components are disposed between one or more portions of the support structure; and 
 generating electric energy by the force applied to the one or more stacked piezoelectric components. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of piezoelectric power generation of  claim 13 , comprising:
 storing the electric energy generated by the one or more stacked piezoelectric components in a power storage device. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of piezoelectric power generation of  claim 13 , wherein the support structure is configured to vibrate at a resonant frequency, and the one or more stacked piezoelectric components generate electric energy in phase. 
     
     
       16. The method of piezoelectric power generation of  claim 13 , wherein the housing isolates the support structure and the one or more stacked piezoelectric components from fluid flow outside of the housing. 
     
     
       17. The method of piezoelectric power generation of  claim 13 , wherein the support structure is a spring. 
     
     
       18. The method of piezoelectric power generation of  claim 14 , wherein each or a subset of the one or more stacked piezoelectric components is independently coupled to the power storage device, wherein when the each or the subset of the one or more piezoelectric elements fails, the remaining of the one or more piezoelectric elements are still able to provide generated energy to the power storage device. 
     
     
       19. The method of piezoelectric power generation of  claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises a central opening through which a fluid carrying tubing is disposed.